US Senate passes $913.9 billion defence policy bill for fiscal 2026

The US Senate has approved its $913.9 billion version of the fiscal 2026 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) after weeks of procedural gridlock that kept the legislation stalled on the Senate floor for more than a month, according to Bloomberg, CNN, Fox News, and other media outlets.

Senators voted 77–20 in favour of the bill, advancing the annual defence policy measure on a largely bipartisan basis.

Media reports noted that the NDAA’s progress had been delayed as senators focused on other pressing issues, including votes to prevent a government shutdown and reopen the federal government.

The measure, considered mandatory legislation, authorises funding for the US military, including payments to service members, military construction projects, weapons development, and key geostrategic initiatives.

Passage of the Senate version clears the way for the next stage — a formal conference between the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, where lawmakers will work to reconcile the differences between the two chambers’ bills. The House had passed its own version of the NDAA in September.

Among its key provisions, the Senate bill extends the US Assistance to Ukraine Initiative (USAI) through 2028 and increases its annual funding to $500 million.

In contrast, the House version of the bill included several controversial policy riders backed by the Republican Party. According to US media, the Senate’s version contains fewer politically charged provisions and is viewed as more bipartisan in tone.

With both chambers having now passed their respective bills, lawmakers will begin conference negotiations to produce a unified version of the NDAA. The final compromise measure must be approved by both the House and Senate before the end of 2025.

By Tamilla Hasanova